I hope showing off the contents of yesterday’s CSA box doesn’t depress anyone whose CSA isn’t harvesting yet.  I’ve lived in the Northeast, the Southeast, and now the Southwest, and yes, one of the pluses of Southern California definitely includes the year-round growing season.

 

A few years ago I signed our family up for one of the local Community Supported Agriculture farm share programs.  While some aspects of a seasonal program of fresh veggies did require some adjustments (such as paying up front for the next three month’s worth of produce,  remembering to pick up our box during the scheduled time slot, and making good use of all of the veggies), it’s been a great experience that we’ve never regretted.  I mean, look at this stuff!  The quality is very high, the selection is varied, and the quantities are generous (though truthfully, there were bonus strawberries in this week’s box according to a note in the box, normally this time of year there are only 2 or maybe 3 packs).

 

 

There is some variation in the way CSAs operate, but generally speaking, the most significant aspects are fairly universal.   The produce will be seasonal, fairly local, and picked fresh right before packing the box, though there are some programs that offer additional items, like organic fruits from other regions.

 

Stay tuned for a post with tips on how to get the most out of your CSA box and sometimes seems like a large amount of things you might not choose if you were shopping at the grocery store...